Posted by Eugene Volokh:
An Idea That Never Once Crossed My Mind:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_09_16-2007_09_22.shtml#1190417765
[1]Slate's Human Nature -- which I always enjoy reading -- reports:
Men are hiring photographers to surreptitiously record their
marriage proposals. Photographers say the practice has been growing
for three years. In some cases, the client and photographer arrange
the timing and location for picture quality, e.g., where to stand
(unbeknownst to the woman) so the camera can see both faces. One
man choreographed his proposal so his girlfriend would "look pretty
for the photographs." Rationales: 1) It's romantic. 2) It's a way
to "share" a special moment with friends and family. 3) "The smile
on her face in that moment is something you can't recreate."
Critiques: 1) It's "stalkerish." 2) It's narcissistic. 3) It's a
self-discrediting attempt at authenticity. 4) People are putting
the photos on the Internet, so the "sharing" is indiscriminate. 5)
We've come to think that photos and video are "the only way to
document something" and that "if it's not on Facebook, it didn't
happen." Feminist spin: It's another creepy thing men do to women.
Misogynist spin: But the women are so vain they email the photos to
all their co-workers. Human Nature's challenge: Find a guy who has
posted photos of his girlfriend saying no. (Contestants please
submit entries [2]here.)
References
1. http://www.slate.com/id/2174046/
2. http://fray.slate.com/discuss/forums/2100253/ShowForum.aspx
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